Gallery 7
Room for one more...
1. Above: Pai, Mae Hong Son Province
Pai is a strange one, with its tealeaf salad and pita, man-buns and tribal shoulder bags. Not that there’s anything wrong with all that, just that how did it all coalesce in Pai? It is such an obscure destination between Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son, potentially the middle of nowhere if it hadn’t become such a chill spot. Whatever, you are definitely good for a few days of R & R, or six weeks if you want to make a head start on writing your book, as some claim to be doing.
Pai is a strange one, with its tealeaf salad and pita, man-buns and tribal shoulder bags. Not that there’s anything wrong with all that, just that how did it all coalesce in Pai? It is such an obscure destination between Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son, potentially the middle of nowhere if it hadn’t become such a chill spot. Whatever, you are definitely good for a few days of R & R, or six weeks if you want to make a head start on writing your book, as some claim to be doing.
2. Above: The DMZ, North-South Korea
The Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea is a fascinating day trip about 60 kms north of Seoul. You can look out over the no-man’s land of the DMZ while taking photos and a panned video of it all, next to the sign that says, ‘No Photographs’. You can stand on the platform of pristine Dorasan Station waiting forlornly for trains between the North and South. Finally, you can walk a good way down one of the North’s infiltration tunnels which was discovered and blocked.
The Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea is a fascinating day trip about 60 kms north of Seoul. You can look out over the no-man’s land of the DMZ while taking photos and a panned video of it all, next to the sign that says, ‘No Photographs’. You can stand on the platform of pristine Dorasan Station waiting forlornly for trains between the North and South. Finally, you can walk a good way down one of the North’s infiltration tunnels which was discovered and blocked.
3. Above: Tokyo Big Sight
The Tokyo Big Sight is an arena that hosts events next to Odaiba Seaside Park which is adjacent to one of the venues for water sports in the Olympics. It is big, it’s true, and quite a sight too. The hangar sized halls are set up such that several expos can take place at the same time. This particular one was about floral arrangements, which happens to be a thing in Japan. There were all manner of weird and wonderful entries, along with ‘have a go yourself’ tables and a TV live action, timed competition - a kind of 'beat the clock' with a random selection of flowers and stalks. So creative!
The Tokyo Big Sight is an arena that hosts events next to Odaiba Seaside Park which is adjacent to one of the venues for water sports in the Olympics. It is big, it’s true, and quite a sight too. The hangar sized halls are set up such that several expos can take place at the same time. This particular one was about floral arrangements, which happens to be a thing in Japan. There were all manner of weird and wonderful entries, along with ‘have a go yourself’ tables and a TV live action, timed competition - a kind of 'beat the clock' with a random selection of flowers and stalks. So creative!
4. Above: Wat Traimit, Bangkok
Wat Traimit Withayaram Worawihan, the Temple of the Golden Buddha, has an interesting back-story. The largest gold Buddha statue in the world, it is thought to have been cast 800 years ago. It was covered in plaster to prevent discovery in Ayutthaya when the Burmese army was on the attack. The gold beneath the concrete jacket was only discovered in 1955. Now, the crowds of visiting worshippers are kept in line and ushered through smartly to maintain harmony.
Wat Traimit Withayaram Worawihan, the Temple of the Golden Buddha, has an interesting back-story. The largest gold Buddha statue in the world, it is thought to have been cast 800 years ago. It was covered in plaster to prevent discovery in Ayutthaya when the Burmese army was on the attack. The gold beneath the concrete jacket was only discovered in 1955. Now, the crowds of visiting worshippers are kept in line and ushered through smartly to maintain harmony.
5. Above: Setsubun Festival, Japan
Setsubun is a festival in February whereby you can chase away your woes by hurling soybeans at a demon as it parades through the streets, thus ensuring good fortune for the coming year. The demon, or oni, is pelted with beans, while the crowd scrambles to pick up the stray ones from the floor. Take them home and cook them in order to garner even more good luck by eating the number of beans of your age – plus one. Quite a meal for the many oldies in Japan!
Setsubun is a festival in February whereby you can chase away your woes by hurling soybeans at a demon as it parades through the streets, thus ensuring good fortune for the coming year. The demon, or oni, is pelted with beans, while the crowd scrambles to pick up the stray ones from the floor. Take them home and cook them in order to garner even more good luck by eating the number of beans of your age – plus one. Quite a meal for the many oldies in Japan!
6. Above: Meuang Boran, Thailand
Meuang Boran or Ancient City is located in Samut Prakan, south of Bangkok. It is the largest outdoor museum in the world. To get round you need to drive or hire a golf buggy. Each of the 116 structures is a sight to behold and sets out to preserve Thai heritage from pre-historical times to the present Rattanakosin Dynasty. There is also a replica floating market surrounded by walkways and restaurants, so you can take a boat trip which docks in time for lunch.
Meuang Boran or Ancient City is located in Samut Prakan, south of Bangkok. It is the largest outdoor museum in the world. To get round you need to drive or hire a golf buggy. Each of the 116 structures is a sight to behold and sets out to preserve Thai heritage from pre-historical times to the present Rattanakosin Dynasty. There is also a replica floating market surrounded by walkways and restaurants, so you can take a boat trip which docks in time for lunch.
7. Above: Wat Bowonniwet, Bangkok
Wat Bowonniwet Vihara in Bangkok is where members of the Chakri Dynasty served their monkhood. It is also the final resting place of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Rama IX. Walking round one is aware of the wat’s standing by the immaculate upkeep. The monk’s quarters add a touch of finesse with their louvred shutters and colonial style exteriors.
8. Above: Khao Kor, Thailand
Khao Kor is an upland area in Loei Province designated as a national park. The local climate makes it a perfect destination for escaping the heat and also for market gardening and horticulture. Entrepreneurs quickly realised that fields of flowers would be a perfect backdrop for those selfies on Instagram. Twenty-baht gains entrance to the fields and IG glory for weeks to come. Just count the crowds all day on a weekend – that’s a lot of green notes in the tin at the gate.
9. Above: The Imperial Palace, Tokyo
The Imperial Palace in the centre of Tokyo is the home of the Emperor of Japan. Most of the extensive grounds are off-limits to the general public, although folks are allowed to enter part of the complex on the Emperor's birthday. What is noticeable as you approach the fortifications on your tour of the grounds, as with all Japanese castles, is that if you manage to swim across the moat you will have to contend with walls which are immensely thick. Good luck with that.
10. Above: Muang Tam, Buriram Province
Prasat Muang Tam in Buriram Province is not far from the Cambodian border. This Khmer temple dating from the 10-11th centuries, is thought to have been an administrative centre, with the surrounding symmetrical barays (ponds) having a ceremonial function. Walking around, the site exuded a calmness. It may have been due to the sandstone antiquities or the fact that it is rather out of the way, attracting just a smattering of visitors – not even enough to wake the sleeping dogs!
11. Above: Wat Boonyawad, Chonburi Province
Wat Boonyawad in the outer reaches of the province is remote and surrounded by rubber and palm oil plantations. It’s one of those where you park the car but there are no clues as to which way to go, so you follow a group who look like they know what they are doing. They don’t. The second car park at the top leads you to the main stupa and its commanding views across the countryside. The wat is a centre for meditation, with the view certainly augmenting the experience.
12. Above: The Skytree, Tokyo
The Skytree is a surprisingly okay trip. It didn’t sound too promising to be honest, but the megalopolis stretched out before you in bright sunlight can’t fail to impress. The icing on the cake as it were – more of a cherry really – is Mt Fuji seemingly suspended on the skyline. At 634 metres the Skytree is the world’s tallest tower, although not the world’s tallest structure. The tower is earthquake-proof by dint of a concrete tube running up the centre which allows the tower to sway. I’ll take their word for it with that one - absolutely no need for a demo.
13. Above: Si Satchanalai, Thailand
Si Satchanalai was founded in the 12th century as the residence of the Crown Prince of the Sukhothai Kingdom. It means ‘City of Good People’. The town was abandoned after the Burmese-Siam war of 1765 and only restored in 1988. The site isn’t so large, so can be navigated on foot from the car park. The Historical Park is a World Heritage Site and in quite good condition, although many of the stupas lean at a slight angle. This has the effect of making you double-check your images in the viewfinder. ‘If I make the Chedi vertical, the walls will all be on a slant…’ sort of thing.
14. Above: Baseball in Japan
A baseball game in Japan is such an exciting spectacle, especially a night game! There is something formulaic about how the fans chant, taking it in turns as they do; they also have a different chant for each player. Then come the cheerleaders, then up go the balloons, then finally the fireworks. You know what’s coming but it’s still great – as are the beer girls who bring your pint to your very seat. The rules of the game? You pick it up as you go along, so that you have an understanding of what the tension is all about, even if you don’t quite get why the fans are groaning or whooping about a particular play.
15. Above: Chai Mongkol Pagoda, Thailand
Chai Mongkol Pagoda sits on a hill in Roi Et Province. It is an impressively large site and one of Thailand’s largest wats. You can get a view of the countryside by going up the spiral staircase which scarily disappears into the ceiling inside. The interior on several levels in beautifully decorated with stained glass windows and rows of Buddhas in the half-light. The outside grounds let things down rather as the climate leaves all the building exteriors in poor fettle. Whatever the number of workers employed to care for the site is, I would estimate that they need to triple it.
Chai Mongkol Pagoda sits on a hill in Roi Et Province. It is an impressively large site and one of Thailand’s largest wats. You can get a view of the countryside by going up the spiral staircase which scarily disappears into the ceiling inside. The interior on several levels in beautifully decorated with stained glass windows and rows of Buddhas in the half-light. The outside grounds let things down rather as the climate leaves all the building exteriors in poor fettle. Whatever the number of workers employed to care for the site is, I would estimate that they need to triple it.
16. Above: The Erawan Museum, Thailand
The Erawan Museum is in Samut Prakan which is a relatively easy trip out from Bangkok. The main feature is the giant three-headed elephant statue. You can see it from the main road miles away but you only appreciate its size when you are standing next to it. At 39 metres it doesn’t sound much, but craning your neck to take it all in, you can see that it is in the ‘wonder’ category. The inside of the museum has three levels, depicting the underworld, human world and heaven.
The Erawan Museum is in Samut Prakan which is a relatively easy trip out from Bangkok. The main feature is the giant three-headed elephant statue. You can see it from the main road miles away but you only appreciate its size when you are standing next to it. At 39 metres it doesn’t sound much, but craning your neck to take it all in, you can see that it is in the ‘wonder’ category. The inside of the museum has three levels, depicting the underworld, human world and heaven.
17. Above: Nakhon Phanom, Thailand
Every now and again you come across a nice surprise in Thailand. Nakhon Phanom in the far north-east next to Laos doesn’t sound very promising, perhaps it’s the name which doesn't really inspire. But, sitting on the banks of the Mekong River as it does, there’s a pleasant corniche to strut or cycle along, market stalls and a walking street of bars and restaurants. Not only that, but there are some amazing sights nearby in what must be an up-and-coming province.
Every now and again you come across a nice surprise in Thailand. Nakhon Phanom in the far north-east next to Laos doesn’t sound very promising, perhaps it’s the name which doesn't really inspire. But, sitting on the banks of the Mekong River as it does, there’s a pleasant corniche to strut or cycle along, market stalls and a walking street of bars and restaurants. Not only that, but there are some amazing sights nearby in what must be an up-and-coming province.
18. Above: Chacheongsao, Thailand
Chacheongsao Province next to Bangkok is known for its notable wats which are scattered about. One such noteworthy temple is Wat Sanam of the pink elephant fame. Also known as the Lord Ganesh Temple, head to this one if your business needs a boost. Good fortune awaits those who pray to this Hindu deity, as evidenced by the long line making offerings.
Chacheongsao Province next to Bangkok is known for its notable wats which are scattered about. One such noteworthy temple is Wat Sanam of the pink elephant fame. Also known as the Lord Ganesh Temple, head to this one if your business needs a boost. Good fortune awaits those who pray to this Hindu deity, as evidenced by the long line making offerings.
19. Above: Queen Sirikit Botanical Gardens, Thailand
These gardens just north of Chiang Mai make for a nice day out. Besides all the glass houses and eco environments, you’ve got the canopy walkway which meanders through the forest. Draco, the flying lizard, annotates your walk with useful tips like, ‘Don’t fall off, whatever you do’. Not really, he's much more sensible than that, is old Draco. The whole site is well thought out as you drive round and park at each of the points of interest.
These gardens just north of Chiang Mai make for a nice day out. Besides all the glass houses and eco environments, you’ve got the canopy walkway which meanders through the forest. Draco, the flying lizard, annotates your walk with useful tips like, ‘Don’t fall off, whatever you do’. Not really, he's much more sensible than that, is old Draco. The whole site is well thought out as you drive round and park at each of the points of interest.
20. Above: Ginza, Tokyo
Ginza is an upmarket area in Tokyo, a kind of Bond Street. It's a place where the high-end brands originally staked out territory before they also made their home in the malls that came later. At weekends the main street is pedestrianized which makes for a perfect stroll in the sunshine or a sit-down if you are lucky enough to get a seat. Nearby market stalls provide for those who don’t feel like purchasing a Cartier watch. ‘No Omega today sir, how about a jar of marmalade?’
Ginza is an upmarket area in Tokyo, a kind of Bond Street. It's a place where the high-end brands originally staked out territory before they also made their home in the malls that came later. At weekends the main street is pedestrianized which makes for a perfect stroll in the sunshine or a sit-down if you are lucky enough to get a seat. Nearby market stalls provide for those who don’t feel like purchasing a Cartier watch. ‘No Omega today sir, how about a jar of marmalade?’